Who’s Tired of Movie Previews?

Anyone else tired of movie previews giving away too much these days? I know I can’t be the only one who thinks this. Previews are an important part of the movie marketing business, I know this, but years ago they were just teasers to tickle our taste buds for more. But something has changed.

Somewhere in the last five to ten years it seems someone (perhaps an over-eager young intern), came up with the “great” idea that previews should be longer, and packed with even more exciting material from the movie to really whet our appetites. Of course, this was all intended to entice more audiences into the first weekend and grab those elusive huge opening-weekend box office numbers. But now I feel like I am drowning every time I see a preview. Am I alone?

What movie-goers really want is to see a good movie. We are delighted when we see a great movie but don’t try tricking us through long, elaborate previews that reveal all the good parts or remove surprise elements. You will lose us in the end. No more trailers for me!

It is possible to find real gems of movies; no trailers needed. I have been extremely lucky to have learned about some great films, even those with no press. So, how do you find them?

Do a little research, maybe by searching IMDb for favorite actors and actresses to find out what they’ve done that you haven’t yet seen. Or become a regular reader of the Blogcritics video section or other review blogs, where others trudge through a plethora of good and bad films so you don’t have to waste your time.

About tiredofpreviews

I agree. Just saw “Insidious,” for example. Good scary movie, but it would have been better if the preview hadn’t given away the main plot twist.

http://tiffanytalks.blogspot.com Tiffany

I haven’t felt so much like they give away too much, but what drives me crazy is when they’re misleading. “Trailers” are apparently not “previews”, in the sense that what they show is not clips from the movie, but some cut-and-pasted manipulation that gives the impression of conversations that don’t actually take place in the movie. In every other area of marketing that’s known as “false advertising” and the FTC has some strong views on it. Apparently it’s acceptable to “sell” a movie as something other than what it is, though.

TK

I agree. I hate it when some of the best lines are in the trailers. And for movies that are coming that I know I already want to see, I sit in the theatre with my eyes closed and fingers in my ears. And if it’s on TV I immediaely change the channel.